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‘Speedy Gonzales’ is Pacquiao’s new nickname, says sparmate

MANILA, Philippines – For David Rodella, Manny Pacquiao is more than just the “Pacman."

“Speedy Gonzales," the 26-year old Rodella hollered out at the end of their intense, three-round sparring session Thursday at the Wildcard Gym in Hollywood, California.

And why “Speedy Gonzales", the animated cartoon mouse known for his fast ability?“I can’t see his punches. It’s just to fast," said Pacquiao’s sparmate from Oxnard, California.

“He’s from another planet."

Pacquiao sparred for six rounds as sparring session for his fight with Ricky Hatton entered the final three days as per Freddie Roach’s timetable.

It was fun but at the same time intense as Rodella and Alisher Rahimov learned later.

Rodella went toe-to-toe with the world’s top pound-for-pound fighter for three rounds, each getting his own share of solid blows.

But when the 30-year old Pacquiao poured it on as the sparring was about to end, Rodella found himself on the verge of getting knocked down.

“There’s just so many punches out there," said Rodella, who was dropped by Pacquiao to the canvass a week ago during a similar serious workout.

“I also do the same thing, but he’s just too fast," added the boxer who owns a 12-1 record (six KOs).

With that Rodella rests his case – Pacquiao will beat Hatton hands down.

“Hatton is very strong, very smart and very aggressive, “he said. “But Manny will be too fast for him."

The sparring came a day after Pacquiao skipped Wednesday’s training to take a well-deserved rest following a hectic schedule the day before when he flew to San Francisco for the ceremonial pitch of the San Francisco Giants-San Diego Padres Major League Baseball game.

Pacquiao hardly lost a step when he climbed the ring and sparred with Rahimov for the first three rounds.

"C’mon, punch! punch! punch!," the southpaw from General Santos City would egged on Rahimov while he leans on the ropes and allows his Uzbek sparmate to hit him with several solid blows to the body.

Rodella then followed, after which Pacquiao had six rounds in the mitts with trainer Freddie Roach, did the double end bag, worked on the speed ball, shadow-boxed at the ring and finally, cooled down through the skip rope.

When training was finally over, the General Santos City native asked for another round on the speedball, to which Roach readily obliged.